How safe is it?
It is extremely safe. While this may be a relatively new procedure, great effort has been made to make it as safe as possible. There are very rare adverse effects, which we will be happy to review with you at your consultation.
Do I need special
preparation?
There is no need to
interrupt your usual routine. You may take your usual
medications before, during and after the procedure.
Is ThermaCool for
everyone?
Because radiofrequency is
used in these treatments, patients with heart pacemakers
are advised not to undergo ThermaCool facelift procedures.
The radiofrequency may interfere with the heart pacemaker
device.
Where on the face is it
applied?
Tightening skin in key
areas can be advantageous for cosmetic improvement.
Treating the forehead can lift the eyebrows and enhance
the appearance of the eyes, making the eyes look more
open, less tired and more alert. Other areas such as the
skin of the cheeks can also be treated to reduce the
sagginess that produces deep folds with aging. Multiple
other sites are being tested.
Is it painful?
Each time the machine is
fired there is a sensation of heat in the area. An
anesthetic cream applied one hour before the procedure
will make this quite tolerable. Fortunately, this heat
sensation lasts only fractions of a second and is followed
by a cold sensation, which also helps minimize the
discomfort.
When can I return to
normal activities?
Immediately. There is
typically no down time. Minimal redness is seen in some
patients, but it usually disappears within an hour. There
is usually no swelling, bruising or pain afterwards. There
is no special care needed after the procedure. You may
return to your normal scheduled activities immediately.
How long will the effects
last?
We do not know; however,
results have been documented to last at least 22 months.
But because of the aging process, skin laxity will
naturally increase again with time. However, there is no
"Cinderella effect" in which the results from the
treatment will suddenly disappear in one day.
Can this be combined with
other treatments?
The ThermaCool facelift
has been successfully combined with a number of other non
ablative technologies located at Skinovative Laser Center.
Clients have combined this ThermaCool facelift technology
with IPL PhotoFacial for treatment of photo aging, red
spots and brown spots. Others have combined this with
NLite or Cooltouch for treatment of wrinkles and/or acne
scars. Microdermabrasion has been combined as well as
BOTOX® for resolution of dynamic wrinkles caused by the
muscles in the face.
Before and After Photos